London rush hour rail passengers were left stunned when announcements blamed delays to their trains on a woman having a miscarriage.
Southeastern trains is investigating the announcement, which passengers said they heard broadcast over the PA on delayed trains during the Tuesday evening rush hour.
Many expressed anger on Twitter at the way it was handled. Tweets posted following the announcement suggest it was made on at least three different services: the 17:56 from London Bridge to Rochester, the 17:52 from Cannon Street to Rainham, and the 17:27 from Victoria to Gillingham.
@Se_Railway Conductor on 17:56 from LBG to Roch informed the whole train a lady had a miscarriage.Disgusting behavior @Se_Railway.Be ashamed
— Nicola Broodbank (@NicolaBroodbank) February 23, 2016
The guard on the 17:52 CST to RAI needs some training, we didn't need to know the delay was due to someone having a miscarriage @Se_Railway
— Peter Quinn (@TheMighty_1) February 23, 2016
@Se_Railway guard on 17:27 VIC-GLM telling everyone train delayed due to person having miscarriage at RTR. So we really need this much info?
— P.W (@P__Williams26) February 23, 2016
Southeastern confirmed that a passenger was taken ill on the 16.43 train from Victoria to Gillingham.
Will Quinton, who was returning home to Rainham on one of the services delayed by the crisis, told KentOnline: “It was entirely inappropriate. It’s a private thing, and a terrible thing for a woman to have to go through.
“The driver should have used his loaf and thought of a way to rephrase it. I just wonder where that started.”
Sarah Unsworth tweeted: “@Se_Railway a member of your team announced on a tannoy system that the ill passenger had suffered a miscarriage. Awful thing to announce.”
A Southeastern spokesman said: “We picked up on social media last night that this announcement had apparently been made. This would be an entirely inappropriate announcement to make and we are looking into the matter.”
